“Now is the right time in the political and economic cycle for me to hand over to a new director-general,” Lambert said.

“The CBI is in good shape, with much to do on behalf of its members. The new government is in place, and is generating a huge range of policy issues, which the CBI is getting stuck into. And the economy is moving into a new phase, in which business investment and trade will be the essential engines of recovery.”

Lambert, a former editor of the Financial Times, added: “I have no definite plans at the moment, but will be looking for interesting things to do.”

The CBI has appointed executive search specialists Saxton Bampfylde to look for a new director-general